What and where is this?

The Rensselaer Republican had a weekly feature in which readers try to identify a picture. Each day more of the picture is revealed. Below is a picture that they probably would never use--but can you identify what is shown in the picture below and where it is?

A hint: I found this when I was looking at flowers along a road. It is either in Rensselaer or on the city line. Think parking lot drainage.